Refrigerated case



Oct. 7, 1952 c, H|LKER 2,612,761

REFRIGERATED CASE Filed June 19, 1950 INVENTOR. 'RAYMo/VD C. HILKER Patented Oct. 7, 1952 orrlce REFRIGERATED CASE Raymond 1G.- Hilker, Cincinnati, Ohio Applicationlllunejm, 1950, Serial No. 168,896 1 Claim. ((31. 62116') This invention relates to a refrigerated case for preserving a human corpse while exposed to view pending interment.

An object of this invention is to provide a refrigerated case in which a corpse may be displayed during funeral services.

A further object of this invention is to provide a refrigerated display case having a cover which can be raised or thrown back to reveal the corpse or a portion thereof during funeral services.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will in part be apparent and will in part be obvious from the following detailed description, and the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a funeral display case constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section of the case illustrated in Fig. 1, the lid sections of the case being shown closed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly broken away and in section, showing the interior of the case and Fig. 4 is a view in section taken along a line IVIV in Fig. 3.

In the following detailed description, and the drawing, like reference characters indicate like parts.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the display case includes ahollow open-topped main container or case ll] having insulation l2 in the walls and bottom thereof to prevent excessive heat transfer therethrough. The central opening of the container is unobstructed throughout its length and is of sufiicient size to contain a corpse during the period preceding interment.

The case ID is cooled by means of cooling tubes or coils l3 through which refrigerant is circulated. The tubes are disposed in the walls of the case so that the walls and the air in the case are refrigerated. Tubes l3 are supplied with refrigerant by appropriate apparatus including a motor-compressor l3 and condenser l4 both of which are mounted in a compartment l4 below the main compartment of case ll]. As shown in Fig. 2, coils I3 are disposed inside the insulation and are covered by a shell l5 which forms the inner lining of the case.

The case is provided with a platform 16 which is formed of a plurality of slats I! connected together by cross members l8 to form a gridiron having spaces between slats. The platform forms a support upon which the corpse may rest.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 platform I6 is supported on blocks l8 which hold the platform spaced above the bottom of the case so that the cold air can circulate through the platform around a corpse resting thereon to chill and preserve the same.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the case is provided with a pair of lid section l9 and 2| by means of which the top of the case may be closed. The lid sections operate individually, and one lid section may be open while the other is closed. Thus,

when a corpse is disposed in the case, the lid section above the face of the corpse may be raised to reveal the face and upper part of the corpse while the other lid when closed covers the lower extremities. The lid sections, as shown, are hinged in tandem along the upper edge-of one side wall of the case. The lid sections may be provided with hinge springs 2| or the like to hold the lid sections in raisedposition.

Appropriate latches 22 are provided forholding the lid sections in closed position. Gaskets 22' on the lid sections engage the upper edge of the walls of the case. The lid sections need not necessarily form a complete and airtight seal with the upper edges of the walls of the case because the chilled air in the case does not tend to rise or escape but instead tends to remain in the case. The type of lid sections shown represent a preferred form ofthe invention, but it is to be understood that other forms of lid sections may be substituted, for example, sliding lids or other forms of lids may be employed instead of the hinged lid sections shown.

If desired, the interior of the case may be decorated with a cloth lining 23, but the lining preferably is of a porous material through which air can readily pass.

The refrigerating system preferably is regulated to maintain a temperature between-34 degrees F. and 44 degrees F. in the case at which temperature it has been found that a corpse can be preserved pending interment without causing .any disfiguration of the features of the corpse which may result at lower temperatures.

The case may be supported on casters 24 (Fig. 2) so that it may be conveniently moved about from place to place.

The display case illustrated in the drawing and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from either the spirit or the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A refrigerated cofiin for preserving a human corpse while exposed therein to view pending interment, which comprises an elongated, hollow, open-topped case having a bottom, and side and end walls, the case being adapted to receive a corpse therein, a platform mounted horizontally in said case in spaced relation to the bottom thereof for supporting the corpse in the case, said platform containing a plurality of spaced openings to permit passage of air through the platform, the edges of said platform terminating short of the walls of the case, whereby the platform is readily removable therefrom, refrigerantevaporating elements in the walls of the case to refrigerate the interior thereof, cold air sinking down the sides of the case and circulating through the openings in the platform and around the corpse to refrigerate the corpse, there being a hollow compartment below the corpse-receiving case, a compressor and a condenser mounted in said compartment in series with the refrigerant- 4 evaporatin elements for compressing and condensing the refrigerant and for delivering the condensed refrigerant to the refrigerant-evaporating elements, and casters supporting the coffin whereby the refrigerated cofiin can be moved about.

RAYMOND C, HILKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

